This hip renovated motel in South East Portland, Oregon is the perfect destination for any eco conscious traveler who wants an authentic Portland experience. The neighborhood is growing and full of unique boutiques, delicious restaurants, and great bars (not to mention that at Jupiter Hotel itself, you'll find a music venue called the Douglas Fir). The history and character on Burnside (neighborhood/street the hotel is located on/in) is one that will leave you feeling as if you are truly experiencing the 'hipster' side of this NW American City (I highly suggest watching Portlandia before heading up here, you'll get in some fantastic laughs about the unique city of Portland).

One of my favorite things about the Jupiter Hotel in Portland, Oregon is that the hotel is dog friendly. Naturally this meant that I had to bring my fluffy friend Mocha Bear, who as you can see immediately made himself comfortable on the couch next to my eco Hamilton Perkins luggage.

However my favorite aspect of the 'Green' side of the Jupiter Hotel is that since 2012 they have partnered with the Clean the World Foundation. They donate (or recycle) all used guestroom soap, conditioner & shampoo to help fight death from disease in 3rd world countries. Since adopting the program Jupiter Hotel has diverted a total of 334lbs of landfill waste.

As a bonus if you happen to be an employee of the Jupiter Hotel, you get a free monthly bus pass as they want to encourage the use of mass transit as opposed to driving. While as a guest of the Jupiter Hotel, you'll have access to bikes for daily use at a first come first serve basis (sadly when I was visiting Portland the weather wasn't fantastic, so the bikes were still put away and not available for use).

This Columbia Valley (Washington State) wine from Charles Smith Wines was the perfect touch to the room, I loved that it was both local and the label was unique. These bold labels (might I saw not forgettable) were designed by a friend of Charles Smith (the winemaker), Rikke Korff who is a Danish artist.

It may seem like a simple thing, however reusing towels and sheets really does make a difference (so it is worth it to hang your towels up to dry and reuse those sheets a few times).

I used to not realize just what a huge difference the reuse of towels and linens was, until I read this article from National Geographic called 'Hotels Save Energy With a Push to Save Water.'

For years, many hotels have been offering their guests the chance to skip washing towels and sheets every day, in a bid to save water and energy.

The American Hotel and Lodging Association estimates that the request reduces the number of loads of laundry washed—as well as the related water, sewer, energy, and labor costs—by 17 percent. The association also notes that such programs increase the lifespan of towels and linens, thus reducing replacement costs.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that hotels and other lodgings use about 15 percent of the total water taken up by commercial and institutional facilities in the United States, according to agency spokesperson Carissa Cyran. The commercial and institutional sector, in turn, is responsible for about 17 percent of the withdrawals from U.S. public water systems.

The vibe of Jupiter Hotel at night was just as fun and as the hotel itself, I particularly loved the blue lights (seemed to be the perfect way to add a whole new vibe to the outside of a renovated motel). The bamboo plants around the parking lot also gave the rooms on the ground floor a bit of privacy.

Addtionaly you'll find in the parking lot near the lobby of Jupiter Hotel, an electric car charging station.

As I mentioned above in the photo with Mocha Bear, the luggage that I brought with me on this trip to the Jupiter Hotel in Portland was indeed eco luggage from a young company called Hamilton Perkins. This piece of 'Green' luggage is made up of 17.5 recycled bottles and 1 square yard of recycled billboard (yes the ones you see when driving down a freeway). These sustainable weekend duffel bags are Made In Haiti & Honduras responsibly, which creates dignified fair wage jobs and also helps clean up plastic bottles around both these countries (where recycling is still often not even an option).

After dinner at Noble Rot, I loved sitting by the fire at the Jupiter Hotel's bar for some wine and warmth.

The Mother Brown's Remedy Travel Well Kit is completely vegan and contains supplements that help maintain your body when traveling by helping to balance your PH levels and optimize the functions of your body.

Dinner at Noble Rot was everything that I was hoping for. Ingredients were fresh, well balanced and of course delicious. Not to mention that one of the biggest decision makers of coming here was how short of a walk from Jupiter Hotel it was (maybe 5 minutes). One of my biggest pet peeves when traveling is when I end up going across town to eat, not only does this waste time however it normally adds to my carbon footprint (unless I have been walking around and exploring all day).

The rooftop garden of Noble Rot was just beautiful and really gave a wonderful experience to dinner at this Farm to Table restaurant. Be prepared to climb up a steep staircase to get to the roof, I promise that the climb up is very worth the views.

It is also an amazing feeling to see where many of the vegetables in your food are coming from.

The wine list at Noble Rot was one that I immediately loved, as I skimmed the wine list I quickly gravitated towards one of my favorite appellations in Italy called Piedmont. Being able to choose to a wine flight instead of just a glass of wine, was a huge bonus.

The modern bar at Noble Rot gave a Manhattan feeling of both elegance and class. In the far end of the photo you can see the start to their own enlcosed patio that is perfect for sunset drinks.

Hattie's Vintage

This vintage haven in Southeast Portland just a couple blocks from Jupiter Hotel was an amazing find. This vintage shop has been around for almost two decades because they know how to offer the best vintage pieces that you can imagine (seriously though, every piece of clothing that I picked up was in pristine condition).

Hippo Hardware & Trading Co

When looking online I had heard about Hippo Hardware and how it was a goldmine for anything vintage that is related to housewares, plumbing, fixtures, door knobs, windows, bathtubs (honestly think Home Depot but everything is vintage with a little bit of character).

Walking around this store was like stepping back into time, I just loved seeing the quality of everything (evrything Hippo Hardware carries was built to last and that is why it is still around).

Once called 'The Herb Shoppe,' Fettle Botanic Supply & Counsel has been serving botanical herbs to the residents and visitors of Portland for over 12 years. This herbal heaven has been run by board certified Naturopathic physician Dr. JJ Pursell, since 2005. She has prided herself on building a business that supports communities by not only offering apothecary medicine, but also offering an internship program where individuals can get hands on experience when it comes to learning about herbal meditation & herbal education.

If you love teas, you'll find that Fettle Botanic Supply & Counsel has every type that you can imagine. Many are premade blends however if you are looking for something specific, you can consult a friendly herbal assistant.

My stay at the Jupiter Hotel was complimentary, however all my thoughts about the hotel are my own. The standards of the hotel are also both ethical and green, which fit into Florum Magazine's own ethical standards.